Despite 6 percent increase, HVCC funding remains issue

Legislature raises support by 6 percent, but college president says more needed

Published 11:02 pm, Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Troy

Rensselaer County will pay 6 percent more to support Hudson Valley Community College as its sponsor for the upcoming school year, but the college president told the County Legislature Tuesday night that even more is needed.

The County Legislature voted 15-2 to approve the college's $110.1 million budget for the 2013-14 school year. The budget raised tuition by 2 percent or $80 to $3,980 annually and saw the county contribution climb to $3.5 million from $3.3 million.

Both county officials and HVCC President Andrew J. Matonak find themselves caught by state legislation that requires counties which don't sponsor a community college, such as Albany and Saratoga counties, to pay the same fee per students that sponsor counties such as Rensselaer County pay.

Rensselaer County pays $1,284 per student at HVCC, compared with the $2,440 charge-back paid by Albany and other counties for its residents attending HVCC. By 2018, all counties will pay the same fee per student at HVCC. Matonak said the college could lose $7.5 million in revenues by that time without any changes.

"However, it is clear that we need to gain your support for increasing Rensselaer County's sponsor contribution if our college is to maintain the breadth and quality of programs and services to our community," the president continued.

Matonak pointed out that the county's sponsor contribution is 3.5 percent of the college budget, the lowest in the state. He noted that in preparing the 2013-14 budget, the college cut its spending by 3.4 percent.

HVCC and county officials have been negotiating to find ways to deal with this newest state mandate.

County Executive Kathleen Jimino had previously included a $100,000 increase for the county budget. An additional $153.000 from fees for services the county provides the college and from an interest-bearing account.

"We are committed to assisting Hudson Valley Community College address their financial dilemma and increase our already extensive support of the college to help them maintain the high level of education available there," Jimino said in a statement.

"Additionally, I have urged the college to pursue cost-savings measures and economies to cut expenses and ensure the college's future viability within the constraints of what our property taxpayers can afford," Jimino continued.

The college put its local economic impact at $250 million. Its payroll includes 440 employees who are county residents.

County legislators noted the importance of the college and the difficulty in resolving the funding challenges.

Legislature Chairman Martin Reid, R-Sand Lake, said negotiations between the county and the college would continue.